utgard14
The first in MGM's wonderful Crime Does Not Pay short series stars an up-and-coming Robert Taylor as an embezzler who turns himself in, lying and saying he spent all of the money he stole ($200,000 - a lot of bread in 1935). His plan is to serve the few years of prison time so that when he's released he will be able to spend all that money without the cops looking over his shoulder. But once inside the pen he starts worrying something might happen to the money and before long he's thinking of escape. Great beginning to the series with an interesting story with some neat twists and a big star when he was still a nobody. A lot of fun for classic film fans, particularly if you enjoy crime dramas from back in the day.
Michael_Elliott
Buried Loot (1935) **** (out of 4) An embezzler steals $200,000 and says he gambled it away. This isn't exactly true because he's buried the money and plans to get it when he's released from prison in five years but a few twists changes things. Here's a terrific MGM short from their "Crime Does Not Pay" film line, which back then was what the TV show Cops is today. Cops would tell true life crimes and then re-enact them. This story is full of wonderful twists and turns and the ending is downright jaw dropping. One of the best of its kind.
jotix100
"Buried Loot" was an MGM one reel feature written and directed by George Seitz that offers a story that could have been written by O'Henry because of the ironic twist in it. Since the whole cast is not credited, one wonders if the studio intended this short film as a showcase, why not have credits that mentioned the same people featured in it.The story is a simple one about how a bank employee decides to confess to the president of the institution his crime of stealing $200,000.00. What's more, he has squandered all the money. The fact is that cunning Al Douglas figures he will spend time in jail and then after serving a sentence, he will be released ahead of the term by his good behavior to dig out the treasure he has buried. But unfortunately, Al, doesn't count on his cell mate's plan to escape prison.The film presents a young Robert Taylor before he became one of the best and most admired actors of the period. Mr. Taylor is heavily made up, as it was the custom of the early films, but one could see how the camera loved him and his virile presence that made him a favorite of the movie fans."Buried Loot" is one of the best examples of the one reel format.
SkippyDevereaux
One of Robert Taylor's earliest "films"--if you call a short subject, a film.All about a guy who steals $200,000 from a bank and the aftermath that goes with it. I found it to be very entertaining and thought that it was too bad that they did not do a complete full length film on this one, as it was really well made!!Try and catch it on a certain cable channel that shows these "one reel wonders", as it is a good one.
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